Ride with Me

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning the bluesy rock anthem "Ride with Me" by Blackeyed Susan from their 1991 album Electric Rattlebone, getting all the Zoo Freaks out there vibing. This track, a standout on the album, has a cool story behind it. According to a 2011 feature on Rock Garage, "Ride with Me" was featured in the Hollywood flick Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, playing as Mickey Rourke’s character cruises into the sunset on his Harley, giving the song a cinematic swagger that perfectly matches its gritty, road-ready sound. Fans on the Blackeyed Susan Fans Facebook group often rave about how the song’s gospel-tinged backing vocals and soaring choruses make it feel like a journey, with one fan calling it “a Bon Jovi ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’ for the blues-rock crowd.” The song’s raw energy came from the band’s decision to skip extensive touring before recording, instead hammering out tracks in a Philadelphia studio over five months in 1990, capturing a spontaneous, barroom vibe that shines through in "Ride with Me."

Another tidbit about "Ride with Me" comes from a review on Rate Your Music, where a fan noted its “arrogant barroom swagger,” highlighting how the band, led by Dean Davidson, poured their confidence into the track despite not having a record deal when they started recording. The song’s bluesy, hard-rock edge, paired with Davidson’s shift from his glam-metal past, made it a favorite for those who discovered the album later, especially after it was reissued in 2019 by Bad Reputation Records. Posts on Blackeyed Susan’s X account occasionally share throwback stories from the Electric Rattlebone era, with one post mentioning how the band played "Ride with Me" live with such intensity that it became a crowd-pleaser, even as their label, Mercury Records, pulled tour support due to the album’s commercial struggles. The Blackeyed Susan Facebook page also shared a fan’s comment about hearing the song on a late-night radio show, sparking a lifelong love for the band’s underdog spirit.

Blackeyed Susan was born in 1990 in Philadelphia when frontman Dean Davidson, fresh off leaving glam-metal outfit Britny Fox, decided to chase a grittier, blues-rock sound. Davidson, who’d been the voice behind Britny Fox’s early hits like “Girlschool,” grew frustrated with the band’s direction after their 1989 album Boys in Heat. Wanting to ditch the hair-metal polish for something rawer, he formed Blackeyed Susan with guitarist Rick Criniti, formerly a keyboardist for Cinderella, alongside bassist Erik Levy, drummer Chris Branco, and guitarist Tony Santoro. According to a bio on Last.fm, Davidson’s vision was to blend hard rock with blues and country influences, drawing comparisons to bands like The Black Crowes and The Quireboys. The band hit the ground running, signing with Mercury Records and releasing Electric Rattlebone in 1991, though the album’s timing at the tail end of the glam-metal era meant it didn’t get the love it deserved.

Davidson’s journey to Blackeyed Susan started in Philadelphia’s vibrant rock scene, where he honed his chops as a singer, guitarist, and harmonica player. His time with Britny Fox, formed in the mid-1980s, gave him a taste of success, with their debut album hitting the charts and earning MTV airplay. But as he told Rock Garage in an interview, he left Britny Fox because he “wanted to make exactly this sound”—a dusty, blues-driven rock that felt more authentic to I don’t have the information to complete this sentence, as the band’s story cuts off in the sources. However, Blackeyed Susan’s official website, www.deandavidson.com, and social media presence keep the legacy alive. You can follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans also gather at the Blackeyed Susan Fans Facebook group and share rare memorabilia on sites like Heavy Metal Rarities, keeping the Zoo Freaks’ favorite band’s spirit rocking.